While working in the remote fields of Panama as a Peace Corps volunteer, Zachary McNish listened

During his three years of living with the Wounann people in the Rio Hondo area of Panama, McNish learned, for instance, that the indigenous group faced difficulties irrigating their crops. He also found them resistant at first to new agricultural methods, even though these efforts would likely increase their yield. By listening first, then acting, McNish finally managed to introduce new farming techniques that have helped the Wounann with their crops.

From Peace Corps to legal clinics, Zachary McNish is there to help others

By Rony Camille

Wednesday, June 7, 2006

Caption: Zachary McNish continued his service work as a law student. |Photo: Dan Hamerman

Durham, N.C. -- While working in the remote fields of Panama as a Peace Corps volunteer, Zachary McNish listened. He listened to the villagers describe how they lived their lives and the many hardships that confronted their community.

During his three years of living with the Wounann people in the Rio Hondo area of Panama, McNish learned, for instance, that the indigenous group faced difficulties irrigating their crops. He also found them resistant at first to new agricultural methods, even though these efforts would likely increase their yield.

By listening first, then acting, McNish finally managed to introduce new farming techniques that have helped the Wounann with their crops.

These same qualities served McNish well as a contributing member of Duke Law School community. Shortly before graduating with his law degree this spring, McNish was selected for a prestigious service medal given each year by the university.

“Working for the Peace Corps was more of an instinct than a calling,” McNish said. “My desire to help others is specific. … Looking back, I liked being an advocate for people.”

During his three years at Duke Law, McNish advocated for a number of causes. As co-chair of the law school’s non-profit Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF), he led an effort that raised nearly $100,000 for fellow students on unpaid legal internships or who had other financial needs.

Teresa Sakash worked side-by-side with McNish on these PILF efforts, and came away impressed by his hard work and dedication.

“He loves non-profit work. You can just smell it in him; he can work on it 12 hours a day, six days a week.”

According to Sakash, McNish also came up with a guide to help law students navigate the difficult first year of law school.

“He focuses on helping building a community,” said Sakash, who also served in the Peace Corps before entering law school. “He has paved the way for other students by making it easier.”

McNish said his own orientation to law school failed to prepare him for the rest of the school year, which prompted him and another student to act.

They started Transeo Orbis (which roughly translates in Latin to “jumping through the hoops”) and intentionally made the orientation program comical. For example, students must scale an inflatable mountain (symbolic of the grade curve) and sumo wrestle (a simulation of moot court, where students argue hypothetical cases similar to what might occur in a courtroom.)

Associate law school dean Jill Miller co-nominated McNish for the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Medal, awarded to a graduating senior and a member of the faculty, staff or graduate student body for their outstanding commitment to service. McNish was presented with the medal in early May.

“He tackles the most tedious stuff with great passion,” Miller said.

Rebecca Rich, who like McNish was a teaching assistant in a legal writing class, said she found McNish “always engaged and passionate about learning” various aspects of the law. She said he approaches a mundane task like teaching citation form with the same passion that he approaches other aspects of his life.

“His conduct in this role exemplifies his commitment to taking all of his work seriously and doing it well, simply because it is work that needs to be done,” Rich said.

Born and raised in Hawaii, McNish returned to his native state following graduation. He currently heads Native Future, a non-profit organization aimed at helping indigenous cultures such as the Wounaan conserve their land, which is currently threatened by commercial development.

McNish, who also earned a master’s degree in English, will begin working as a law clerk for Ninth District Federal Magistrate Judge Barry Kurren in Honolulu beginning in August.

“I am really excited to clerk this year,” he said. “It will be great to earn practical experience.” Home>2006>Service Medal Winner ‘an Advocate for People’

When this story was posted in July 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Jody Olsen is acting Peace Corps DirectorThe Senate confirmed Gaddi Vasquez to head the FAO on June 30. Jody Olsen will be acting Director until the President makes a permanent appointment. Olsen has been Deputy Director of the Peace Corps since 2002. She has previously served as Chief of Staff for two directors, as regional director for North Africa, Near East, and Asia and the Pacific, and as country director in Togo. She served in Tunisia as a PCV.

Changing the Face of HungerIn his new book, Former Congressman Tony Hall (RPCV Thailand) says humanitarian aid is the most potent weapon the United States can deploy against terrorism. An evangelical Christian, he is a big believer in faith-based organizations in the fight against hunger. Members of Congress have recently recommended that Hall be appointed special envoy to Sudan to focus on ending the genocide in Darfur.

PC will not return to East Timor in 2006Volunteers serving in East Timor have safely left the country as a result of the recent civil unrest and government instability. Latest: The Peace Corps has informed us that at this time, the Peace Corps has no plans to re-enter the country in 2006. The Peace Corps recently sent a letter offering eligible volunteers the opportunity to reinstate their service in another country.

Chris Dodd considers run for the White HouseSenator Chris Dodd plans to spend the next six to eight months raising money and reaching out to Democrats around the country to gauge his viability as a candidate. Just how far Dodd can go depends largely on his ability to reach Democrats looking for an alternative to Hillary Clinton. PCOL Comment: Dodd served as a Volunteer in the Dominican Republic and has been one of the strongest supporters of the Peace Corps in Congress.

Vasquez testifies before Senate CommitteeDirector Vasquez testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on his nomination as the new Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture replacing Tony Hall. He has been the third longest serving Peace Corps Director after Loret Ruppe Miller and Sargent Shriver. PCOL Comment: Read our thanks to Director Vasquez for his service to the Peace Corps.

Interview with a Hit ManRPCV John Perkins says that for many years he was an "economic hit man" in the world of international finance whose primary job was to convince less developed countries to accept multibillion dollar loans for infrastructure projects that left the recipient countries wallowing in debt and highly vulnerable to outside political and commercial interests. In this exclusive interview for "Peace Corps Online," Colombia RPCV Joanne Roll, author of Remember with Honor, talks to Perkins about his Peace Corps service, his relation with the NSA, "colonization" in Ecuador, the consequences of his work, why he decided to speak out, and what his hopes are for change.

Peace Corps stonewalls on FOIA requestThe Ashland Daily Tidings reports that Peace Corps has blocked their request for information on the Volkart case. "After the Tidings requested information pertaining to why Volkart was denied the position — on March 2 — the newspaper received a letter from the Peace Corps FOIA officer stating the requested information was protected under an exemption of the act." The Dayton Daily News had similar problems with FOIA requests for their award winning series on Volunteer Safety and Security.

PCOL readership increases 100%Monthly readership on "Peace Corps Online" has increased in the past twelve months to 350,000 visitors - over eleven thousand every day - a 100% increase since this time last year. Thanks again, RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps, for making PCOL your source of information for the Peace Corps community. And thanks for supporting the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come.

History of the Peace CorpsPCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help.

RPCV admits to abuse while in Peace CorpsTimothy Ronald Obert has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a minor in Costa Rica while serving there as a Peace Corps volunteer. "The Peace Corps has a zero tolerance policy for misconduct that violates the law or standards of conduct established by the Peace Corps," said Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez. Could inadequate screening have been partly to blame? Mr. Obert's resume, which he had submitted to the Peace Corps in support of his application to become a Peace Corps Volunteer, showed that he had repeatedly sought and obtained positions working with underprivileged children. Read what RPCVs have to say about this case.

Why blurring the lines puts PCVs in dangerWhen the National Call to Service legislation was amended to include Peace Corps in December of 2002, this country had not yet invaded Iraq and was not in prolonged military engagement in the Middle East, as it is now. Read the story of how one volunteer spent three years in captivity from 1976 to 1980 as the hostage of a insurrection group in Colombia in Joanne Marie Roll's op-ed on why this legislation may put soldier/PCVs in the same kind of danger. Latest: Read the ongoing dialog on the subject.

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Story Source: Duke News

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Panama; Agriculture

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